“SHELTER”

Psalm 91:1-9

“Protection Plan Of God”

Part 6

Sunday, May 7th, 2017

Pastor Vincent B. Ligon

INTRODUCTION - Opening Text Psalm 18:1-6

  1. THE PESTILENCE – Psalm 91:3

The “fatal” pestilence; the pestilence that spreads death in its march. That is, he can prevent its coming upon you; or, he can save you from its ravages, while others are dying around you. This promise is not to be understood as absolute, or as meaning that no one who fears God will ever fall by the pestilence - for good people “do” die at such times as well as bad people; but the idea is, that God “can” preserve us at such a time and that, as a great law, he will be thus the protector of those who trust him.

  1. Example: The Ten Plagues Of Exodus

The reason for the plagues appears to be twofold: to answer Pharaoh's taunt, "Who [is] the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go?"(Exodus 5:2), and to indelibly impress the Israelites with God's power as an object lesson for all time, which was also meant to become known "throughout the world".

1. Water into blood - Exodus 7:14–24

2. Frogs - Exodus 8:1-15

3. Lice Exodus 8:16–19

4. Flies – Exodus 8:20-32

5. Livestock Diseased – Exodus 9:1-7

6. Boils – Exodus 9:8-15

7. Thunder and Hail – Exodus 9:18-35

8. Locusts – Exodus 10:1-20

9. Darkness – Exodus 10:21-29

10. Death of the Firstborn – Exodus 11:1-10

Turn to Exodus 12:1-13

Note Exodus 9:15–16

Turn back to Psalm 91:1-10, Psalm 18:1-5

The promise here is substantially that general promise which we have in the Scriptures everywhere, that God is the Protector of his people, and that they may put their trust in him.

  1. THE COVERING WING – Psalm 91:4

There is here a very distinct triad of thoughts. There is the covering wing; there is the flight to its protection; and there is the warrant for that flight.

  1. The covering wing – Psalm 91:4a - The main idea in this image is that of the expanded pinion, beneath the shelter of which the young (unexperienced, immature) lie, and are gathered. This not only suggests the thought of protection but those of fostering, downy warmth, peaceful immediacy to a heart that throbs with parental love, and a multitude of other happy privileges realized by those who nestle beneath that wing.
  1. The flight of the shelterless to the Shelter – Psalm 91:4b - Is not that a bright, intense, colorful, but most illuminative way of telling us what is the very essence, and what is the urgency, and what is the worth, of what we call faith?

There are plenty of people that know all about the security of the Refuge/Shelter and believe it utterly, but never run for it; and so never get into it.

Faith is the gathering up of the whole power of that character and to fling myself into a Sanctuary, to cast myself into God’s arms, to take shelter beneath the shadow of His wings. And unless a person does that, and swiftly, they are exposed to every bird of prey in the sky, and to every beast of prey lurking in wait for them. A person is not saved because they believe that they are saved, but because by believing they lay hold of the salvation. The power of faith is what brings me into contact with God, and sets me behind the strongholds of the Almighty protection.

  1. The warrant for this flight – Psalm 91:4c – King James uses the word “truth” Now, “truth” here does not mean the body of revealed words, which are often called God’s truth, but it describes a certain characteristic of the Divine nature.

You cannot trust a God that has not given you an inkling of His character or disposition. How can a person be encouraged to fly into a refuge unless they are absolutely sure that there is an entrance for them into it, and that, entering, they are safe?

That security is provided in the great thought of God’s character. “Thy faithfulness is like the great mountains.” “Who is like unto Thee, O Lord; or to Thy faithfulness round about Thee?” That faithfulness shall be our “shield,” not a tiny shield that a man could bear upon his left arm, but the word means the large shield, planted in the ground in front of the soldier, covering him, however hot the fight; and circling him around, like a tower of iron. (A. Maclaren, D.D.)

  1. When may this text be relied upon by a believer?

In cases of extreme peril.

In times of temptation.

In times of expected trials

In the hour of death

  1. Why may we be sure that it shall be so?
  1. Faith enlists the sympathy of God.
  2. God’s promise is pledged. You keep your promise to your child, and will not God keep

His promise to you? O rest in Him, then; He shall cover us with His feathers, for His own word declares it.

3. Moreover, we are His child, and what will not a father do for his own dear child?

Were he a stranger you might take little heed though he were in trouble, in danger, or in deep distress--but your child, your own child--oh! you cannot rest, while he suffers. (C. H. Spurgeon.)

CLOSING

Psalm 18:1-6

Amplified Bible (AMP)

“I love You [fervently and devotedly], O Lord, my strength.” The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and the One who rescues me; My God, my rock and strength in whom I trust and take refuge;

My shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower—my stronghold.

I call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised; And I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death surrounded me,

And the streams of ungodliness and torrents of destruction terrified me.

The cords of Sheol (the nether world, the place of the dead) surrounded me; The snares of death confronted me.

In my distress [when I seemed surrounded] I called upon the Lord And cried to my God for help; He heard my voice from His temple, And my cry for help came before Him, into His very ears.